Sacred Heart Church, Caterham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sacred Heart Church |
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| Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Caterham | |
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Church entrance
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 Sacred Heart Church
Location in Surrey
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| 51°17′15″N 0°05′12″W / 51.287365°N 0.086702°W | |
| OS grid reference | TQ 33484 56029 |
| Location | Caterham, Surrey |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | CaterhamCatholic.co.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 24 August 1879 |
| Founder(s) | Fr Francis Roe |
| Dedication | Most Sacred Heart of Jesus |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 19 November 1984 |
| Architect(s) | Edward Ingress Bell |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 24 June 1880 |
| Completed | 11 August 1881 |
| Construction cost | £5,000 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Redhill |
| Diocese | Arundel and Brighton |
| Province | Southwark |
The Sacred Heart Church, also known as the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is a Roman Catholic church in the town of Caterham, Surrey, in England. It serves as the main church for the local Catholic community, which is called a parish church.
The church was designed by an architect named Edward Ingress Bell and was built in 1881. Because of its historical and architectural importance, it is a Grade II listed building. This means it is officially recognized as a special building that must be protected.
Contents
The Story of Its Construction
In 1879, a priest named Father Francis Roe was sent to Caterham. Before he arrived, Catholics in the area, including soldiers from a nearby army base, had to wait for a priest to travel from the town of Croydon to lead a church service, called a Mass.
Father Roe's first Mass in Caterham was held on August 24, 1879, in a temporary chapel built by army officers. Soon, plans were made to build a proper church.
Building a New Church
The first stone of the new church, called the foundation stone, was laid on June 24, 1880. Most of the money to build the church, which cost £5,000, was given by Father Roe's father, Captain William Harriott Roe.
The architect, Edward Ingress Bell, chose a style called Gothic Revival. This style was inspired by the grand churches and cathedrals built in the Middle Ages. The church was designed in the shape of a cross, which is known as a cruciform plan.
The church officially opened on August 11, 1881. The very first Mass was led by the famous Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Manning.
A Look Inside the Church
The inside of the church is beautifully decorated. An artist named Joseph Aloysius Pippet designed large paintings, called murals, that show scenes from the life of Jesus. These murals were painted around the curved part of the church behind the altar, known as the apse.
The stained-glass windows were made by a company called Hardman & Co.. The main window behind the altar was made in 1881, and the murals and other windows were added in 1889. In 1907, the church also added beautiful mosaic pictures.
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A view of the Sacred Heart Church.
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The main altar area, called the chancel.
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A smaller chapel inside the church.
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Paintings of angels in the apse.
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A close-up of the altar.
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The main stained-glass window.
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The Church Community Today
The Sacred Heart Church serves the Catholic communities of Caterham, Whyteleafe, and Godstone. A Mass is held every day, with three services on Sundays. For people who cannot attend in person, the services are often shown live online.
Over the years, the beautiful murals by Pippet were damaged by water. Starting in 2015, a special project was undertaken to carefully repair and restore them to their original beauty.
See also
- List of places of worship in Tandridge (district)
